Buick Encore: Driving Information / Braking

Buick Encore 2020-2022 Owner's Manual / Driving and Operating / Driving Information / Braking

Braking action involves perception time and reaction time. Deciding to push the brake pedal is perception time. Actually doing it is reaction time.

Average driver reaction time is about three-quarters of a second. In that time, a vehicle moving at 100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20 m (66 ft), which could be a lot of distance in an emergency.

Helpful braking tips to keep in mind include:

Keep enough distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.
Avoid needless heavy braking.
Keep pace with traffic.

If the engine ever stops while the vehicle is being driven, brake normally but do not pump the brakes. Doing so could make the pedal harder to push down. If the engine stops, there will be some power brake assist but it will be used when the brake is applied. Once the power assist is used up, it can take longer to stop and the brake pedal will be harder to push.

Defensive Driving

Defensive driving means “always expect the unexpected.” The first step in driving defensively is to wear the seat belt. See Seat Belts. Assume that other road users (pedestrians, bicyclists, and other drivers) are going to be careless and make mistakes...

Steering

Caution To avoid damage to the steering system, do not drive over curbs, parking barriers, or similar objects at speeds greater than 3 km/h (1 mph)...

Other information:

Buick Encore 2020-2022 Owner's Manual: Airbag System

The vehicle has the following airbags: A frontal airbag for the driver A frontal airbag for the front outboard passenger A seat-mounted side impact airbag for the driver A seat-mounted side impact airbag for the front outboard passenger A roof-rail airbag for the driver and the passenger seated directly behind the driver A roof-rail airbag for the front outboard passenger and the passenger seated directly behind the front outboard passenger The vehicle may have the following airbags: A knee airbag for the driver A knee airbag for the front outboard passenger Seat-mounted side impact airbags for the second row outboard passengers All vehicle airbags have the word AIRBAG on the trim or on a label near the deployment opening...

Buick Encore 2020-2022 Owner's Manual: Brake System Warning Light

This light should come on briefly when the vehicle is turned on. If it does not come on then, have it fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem. When the vehicle is on, the brake system warning light also comes on when the parking brake is set...